Clamping means for folders



Nov. 1, 1938. E. NITZ ET AL 2,135,013

CLAMPING MEANS FOR FOLDERS Filed Jan. 10, 1933 [nyenfors 6 H 15; J. Hag swam J n mm Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES CLAMIPINGMEANS Fon FOLDERS Else Nitz and Johanna Hagemann, geb. Jungmann, Berlin, Germany Application January 10, 1938, Serial No. 184,336 In Germany January 15, 1937 6 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical clamping means for folders or covers adapted to accommodate loose sheets or the like, and more particularly groups of connected sheets, such as periodicals, files and other papers or documents. To facilitate comprehension the invention will be described in its application to folders for periodicals.

In devices of this description it has been usual heretofore to employ levers which are pivoted at the one end and can be secured at the opposite end in order thus to clamp the periodicals against the folder. An arrangement of this kind, however, has certain disadvantages. Thus, for example, if it is desired to remove a certain periodical from the folder, all remaining periodicals therein will also be detached at the same time. Moreover the degree of security withwhich the levers are secured at the one end Wil depend to a large extent on the thickness of the periodical, and in the case of excessive thickness the clamping effect will not always be adequate.

It is one object of the invention to provide an improved type of clamping device of they kind in question which will enable any particular periodical to be removed from the folder without interfering with the remainder.

A further object is to provide an improved clamping device which will securely hold the periodicals in the folder irrespectiveof their thickness.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamping device in which any possibility of the clamping means being accidentally released is effectively precluded.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The clamping device according to the invention comprises a plurality of levers adapted to press the periodicals against the folder, each of the said levers being pivoted at the one end and having at the opposite end a fastening device which can be actuated independently of the remaining fasteners. Each fastening device comprises a rocking member which is capable of rocking in the longitudinal direction of the clamping lever. This rocln'ng member has a U-shaped cross-section and is mounted on a transversely disposed pivot bar. At the free end of the clamping lever there is provided a marginal recess or slot, which is adapted to engage with the said bar, and behind this recess a small hole. The two sides of the rocking member possess inwardly directed projections which, when the clamping lever is moved into the extreme position, snap The rocking member itself is produced from a 7 piece of sheet metal suitably bent to shape. The web connecting the two sides merges into a manipulating grip bent at an angle to the web. On the opposite side of the web the space between the two sides is bridged by a lug, which is bent over from the one side against the opposite side. This has the twofold object of facilitating the introduction of the clamping lever between the two side portions and of reinforcing the rocking member. The rocking member is so mounted on the transverse bar that whenthe fastener is closed the connecting web forms an obtuse angle with the upper edge of the clamping lever. In this way-the clamping lever is additionally secured in the locked position. i

To facilitate the introduction of the clamping lever into the rocking member the edges of the rocking member adjoining the web and directed towards the clamping lever are bent slightly outwards.

To be able to accommodate a comparatively large number of clamping levers within a small space successive levers are disposed in opposition to one another, so that at each end of the clamping mechanism 'pivotedends and fastener ends alternate with one another.

The invention will now be described morefully with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the mechanical clamping means.

Fig- 2 is an elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows on enlarged scale an elevational view of a rocking member.

Fig. 4 shows a left end view of the rocking member according to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line VV in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 show in cross section different positions of the fastening device during the fastening operation.

In the drawing, I is the bottom of the folder, which is furnished with two brackets 2. Each bracket has a transverse pivot bar 3, in front of which there is a stop bar 4. On each of the pivot bars there are mounted in alternate disposal a number of clamping levers 5. The free end of each lever is furnished with a marginal recess or slot 6, and beyond this slot there is provided a small hole 1.

For each clamping lever there is provided a separate fastener. This fastener comprises a rocking member 8, which is pivoted on the transverse pivot bar at 9. The rocking member consists of a piece of sheet metal bent in U-shaped fashion to form two side portions l and II and a connecting web i2. The web !2 is extended to form a manipulating grip l3. The space between the two side portions I!) and l l is bridged at one point by a lug M, which is bent off, for example, from the side II. The edges of the rocking member adjacent the web l2 are bent outwards at l5 to enable the clamping lever to be readily introduced between the two sides l0 and II.

In these sides I0 and H of the rocking member 8 there are provided oppositely disposed inwardly directed projections l6. 7

As disclosed by Fig. 1, successive levers are disposed in opposition to one another, so that at each end of the clamping device fasteners alternate with pivoted lever ends.

If desired, the rocking members and the pivoted clamping levers can be mounted to be shiftable on the transverse pivot bars, and one or more springs can be provided tending to press the rocking members and the clamping levers to gether, in order better to adapt the clamping levers to periodicals of different thickness.

The operation of the clamping device is as follows:

If a particular periodical is to be removed from the folder, the appertaining rocking member is moved into the position shown in Fig. 6. The clamping lever can now be lifted upwards away from the fastener, so that the periodical can be removed.

To introduce a periodical into the folder the periodical is placed underneath the appertaining clamping bar and the end of the latter is thereupon introduced between the sides of the rocking member, this rocking member again. having the position shown in Fig; 6. The clamping lever rests against the lug M. The rocking member is thereupon moved into the position according to Fig. 7. In the meantime the recess 6 in, the clamping lever 5 has moved into engagement with the transverse pivot bar 3. The'rocking member is additionally rotated until it assumes the position according to Fig. 8'. Between the two positions in Figs. 7 and 8 the oppositely disposed projections l6 in the sides IE1 and II gradually approach the hole I in the free end 'of the lever 5 until by reason of the resiliency of the side portions ID and ll they snapinto the hole 1 and thus cause the clamping lever and the rocking member to be locked togetherwith a certain degree of resistance.

. What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a clamping device of the character described, a plurality of clamping levers pivoted at their one end, and a separate fastening device for each of the said levers comprising a rocking member, a pivot bar on which the said member rocks and which is adapted to engage with the. free end of the appertaining clamping lever, and means for producing a locking engagement between the said clamping lever and the said rocking member when the said member is rocked.

2. In a clamping device of the character described, a plurality of clamping levers pivoted at their one end, a rocking member for each lever comprising a piece of sheet metal bent in U-' shaped fashion to form two side portions and a connecting web, and oppositely disposed inwardly directed projections on the said side portions adapted to engage with a hole in the free end of the appertaining clamping lever upon the rocking of the said rocking member.

3. In a clamping device of the character described, a plurality of clamping levers pivoted at their one end, a rocking member for each of the said levers comprising a piece of sheet metal bent in U-shaped fashion to form two side portions and a connecting web, a lever engaging lug deflected from one side portion and bearing against the opposite side portion, and oppositely disposed inwardly directed projections on the said side portions adapted to engage with a hole in the free end of the appertaining clamping lever upon the rocking of the said rocking member.

4. In a clamping device of the character decribed, a plurality of clamping levers pivoted at their one end, a rocking member for each of the said levers comprising a piece of sheet metal bent in U-shaped fashion to form two side portions and a connecting web, a pivot bar on which the said member rocks and adapted toengage with a recess in the free end of the appertaining clamping lever, and means forproducing a lock.- ing engagement between the said clamping lever and the said rocking member when the said member is rocked, the said web forming an 0btuse angle with the upper edge of the said clamping lever in the locked position of the parts.

5. In a clamping device of the character described, a plurality of clamping levers pivoted at their one end, a rocking member for each of the said levers comprising a piece of sheet metal bent in U -shaped fashion to form two side portions and a connecting web, the edges of the side portions adjoining the said web and directed towards the said clamping lever being bent out-' wards, and means for producing a locking en'- gagement between the said clamping lever and the said rocking member when the said member is rocked.

6. In a clamping device of the character described, a plurality of clamping levers pivoted at their one end at alternate opposite ends of the clamping device, and an equal number of fastening devices disposed alternately-at opposite ends of the clamping device for fastening each of the said clamping levers separately at their free ends.

ELSE NITZ.

JOHANNA HAGEMANN, one. JUNGMANN. 

